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How did you discover Katherine Neville?
From Robyn Murphy ([email protected]): Just came across her in a
bookshop one day.
From [email protected]: my fiance gave me THE EIGHT, saying i would love
it.
From Judith ([email protected]): I read A Calculated Risk at a
really boring holiday with some family friends - they owned the book
From Jamie ([email protected]): A girlfriend in high school told me I
needed to read her at the time first and only work.
From Melanie ([email protected]): Mom had The Eight laying around,
I picked it up and read it - fell in love!
From Amber ([email protected]): I think we got The Eight in a Book of
the Month Club (or something similar)it was on my mom's bookshelf when I
was looking for something to read.
I read The Eight and really liked it, but a couple of years later when I
was looking for it again (on mom's bookshelf) I couldn't find it, couldn't
remember the author's name only the title. Eventually, I found it in a
bookstore (and mom's house) and saw Calculated Risk at the same time.
From Christine Persons ([email protected]): Friend recommended
the Eight six years ago....since then I have recommended it to everyone I
know!
From Shaianne PeriHawk ([email protected]): I found "The Eight" in
my parents' collection and read it. And read it again and again and
again. I loved it. I loved the quotes, I loved the concepts. I loved
the scenery and the people, though Valentine makes me queasy.
From Stephanie ([email protected]): I was given The Eight by
someone who had received it from someone else. I was then to give it to
someone else. I later bought the book and also The Magic Circle which I
will be reading soon.
From [email protected]: Someone recommended the book to me.
From [email protected]: had to read the eight for school
From Nadia ([email protected]): My Mom had the book The Eight, I
read it and loved it.
From Lanna Lee Maheux ([email protected]): I picked up "The Magic
Circle" in the grocery store (of all places). It passed my test (reading
the back flap, and the first page) to see if the book was interesting. I
liked it so much, I went out and bought "The Eight". Haven't looked for
"A Calculated Risk" yet. (I called in sick this last Thursday to finish
"The Eight"=0)
From Amanda ([email protected]): Bought 'The Eight' on the
spur of the monet - never had heard of it before. Now I can't wait to
read everything else she has written!
From Robert ([email protected]): A friend recommended The Eight to
me
From [email protected]: My P.E. teacher recommended her to me.
From Eric Winebarger ([email protected]): The Magic Circle paperback was
in my grocery store's book section. I usually look through that section
because I sometimes see books that aren't in the sections I frequent in
bookstores, and I occasionally find something new and interesting. I
picked up the book to see what it was about, since the cover gave no
obvious clue. After reading the back, I decided to buy the book. This
was three months ago, and I've already read it a second time. i'll have
to look for the others next time I'm in Borders.
From Lois ([email protected]): A friend lent me The Eight. I read
in the day after I finished what I thought would be the last draft of my
Master's thesis. It was a wonderful break from policy analysis. Do you
have any idea when Katherine Neville's next book will be out?
From Jelena ([email protected]): My mother bought a book.
From Cara ([email protected]): Thought the cover looked interesting
when the paperback first came out. Loved the book. Read Calculated Risk
as soon as it came out, but it was too conventional and I've never re-read
it. Just read Magic Circle. Some bits (especially the history) are quite
good, but I felt that it could have been more fleshed out. Having just
read CRYPTONOMICON which is twice as long, I really don't think it would
have detracted.
From Maya ([email protected]): A friend of mine had "The Eight"
and it looked really good, so I read it. Ever since I've been a huge
fan.
From Jaclyn ([email protected]): My mother read THe Eight and highly
recommended it. I read it and loved it instantly. I awaited her next
novel and picked it up as soon as it was released! From then on i was
hooked!
From Kate Vinson ([email protected]): I was waiting 6 hours
to get onto a plane at heathrow (it was the one year anniversary of
Lockerbie). I wandered over to a kiosk and saw a book (the Eight) with an
interesting cover (much cooler than the american cover--wish I hadn't
loaned it out-- never got it back). I read it in those 6 hours and the 8
hours on the plane. Then I started over.....
From Summer ([email protected]): My sister was an exchange student in
Germany, When she came home she kept raving about this book she had read
there. She made me promise that I would read it. However it took her
over a year to find a copy. When she did, it was the best Christmas
present I have ever received.
From Anthony ([email protected]): A friend of mine told me about _The
Eight_.
From Zorba ([email protected]): Found "The Eight" in a used bookstore
From [email protected]: Found the book @ the library
From Erin ([email protected]): My mother handed me the Eight one boring
summer day and said, here read it. And I did. ;-)
From R.A. Francis ([email protected]): Recommended by a
well-read friend
From Ange ([email protected]): Through my local library - The Eight
right after it came out then all the rest in due time.
From Christie Garner ([email protected]): Someone recommended The
Eight to me years ago. I have just purchased
my sixth or seventh copy for another re-read, since all of my other copies
were loaned out, never to be seen again! I could read The Eight a
thousand times and discover something new each time. It has inspired me
to pursue all of my interests, and a burning need to learn to play chess,
(although I still have
not found anyone to teach me, a major frustration). I love a story that
forces a reader to think, while at the same time provides fantastic
entertainment.
From Shanarra ([email protected]): wicked step-grandmother
From Janice ([email protected]): A friend of mine has been
telling me for YEARS to read THE EIGHT. She claimed it was the most
intense and wonderful book she'd ever read. so, I
got it, and loved it!
From Misty Moore ([email protected]): Some magazine I read
advertised the novel
From Mandy ([email protected]): My friend recommended her books to
me.
From [email protected]: The Eight was given me for my birthday
From Jen ([email protected]): Was looking for something to read at
the bookstore - found the Eight, thought it was fantastic (and have told
many other people about it) and then
picked up Calculated risk (haven't read them for a while, I think its time
to.) Was very excited to learn she has a new book out. Yeah! Just
ordered it at AMAZON.com
From [email protected]: The Eight was a book club selection that I
purchased four or five years after publication. The idea of parallel
stories separated by centuries was appealing.
From HJM Baker ([email protected]): From my sister, who
recommended "The Eight"
From Paty ([email protected]): Four years later I was in a shop lookinf
for an entertaining book. Then I saw "The Eight". The title interested me,
so I bought that book. When i red it, I thought it was so nice, that I go
to the same shop to search for more books of K. Neville
From Morven Lister ([email protected]): I just picked up The Eight in
a bookshop in Glasgow one day and was hooked right away. I then lent it
to my best pal who was in hospital at the time and she says it saved her
sanity. She had to buy her own copy and I have lost count how many times
we have both read it. I always scan the bookshelves and internet waiting
for the next Katherine Neville release.
From Holly ([email protected]): By accident...searching through book
store shelves and "The Eight" caught my attention so I bought it and
wasn't able to put it down. This lead to my returning to the store to
purchase the rest of her books. ALL EXCELLENT!!
From Virpi Virtanen ([email protected]): I was looking for a long
book for my summer holidays and The Eight seemed to be interesting...it
was. (BTW in Finland it is titled as "Black
Queen")
From [email protected]: By accident
From Pilar ([email protected]): I had heard about The Eight,
read it, and continued searching for more
From Philip ([email protected]): web search on chess authors gave
me "The Eight"
From Jeana ([email protected]): I AM A BOOKSELLER AT BARNES AND NOBLE
AND A CUSTOMER RECOMMENDED THE EIGHT...I FELL IN LOVE..I TOOK THIS BOOK ON
MY FREAKING HONEYMOON...I NOW RECOMMEND IT TO WHOMEVER WILL LISTEN!
From Catherine Chang ([email protected]): I have an obsession with
thick books, and I was first attracted by
the hard cover version of the magic circle. I quickly devoured the rest of
her books, and the Eight is my favorite. I've read it over 30 times during
the course of two years...
From Magdalene ([email protected]): I visited to Europe when I was
13. My mother bought me four books for the trip, one of which was The
Eight. I loved it! I continued to read the book
until it fell to pieces, and I just bought a new copy. I'm 22 and loving
The Eight just as much as I did when I was 13, and I'm grasping the more
cerebral bits a little bit better.
From Etrusca ([email protected]): I picked up a copy of The Eight
in a book sale, and was hooked. I'm eagerly awaiting a fourth novel -
hint, hint. The byzantine intricacy of her
novels is fascinating. When you finally see the connections, you feel
like Einstein. Afterwards you realise SHE's the Einstein. You always
finish her books both satisfied and craving more.
From [email protected]: An old boyfriend loaned me his copy of
The Eight
From Ivana Siprak ([email protected]): i found "the eight" in a
bookstore and loved it so much i looked for the other two.
From Huntress ([email protected]): A friend recommended The Eight,
and I was hooked.
From Kathleen M. Laird ([email protected]): The Eight was recommended
to me by a family member.
From Juan Luis ([email protected]): A friend lend me the
eight
From [email protected]: A friend gave me The Eight as a gift.
From Catherine ([email protected]): My high school history teacher
recommended The Eight to me
From Linda ([email protected]): My mom had read The Eight and handed it
to me to read about 10 years ago.. fell in love with it, snatched up
Calculated Risk as soon as I saw it. I've lost count of how many copies
of The Eight have passed through my hands because I keep lending out
copies and never getting them back.. :)
From Christa ([email protected]): A roommate recommended "The
Eight" to me in college.
From Tori ([email protected]): MY English teacher (Mrs.
Harrison)recommended "The Eight" to me.
From Lisa ([email protected]): word of mouth
From Alexandra ([email protected]): A good friend of mine told me
about her favorite book, which was "The Eight". She said she absolutely
loved it and had already read it several times and suggested I should read
it too. what she told me about it was just enough to get me all curious
without telling me anything, so I agreed.
From Lynne ([email protected]): Totally by accident! What a
delight!
From Robyn Murphy ([email protected]): Easy to read, fantastic
research and the characters are so real. Reality and fiction is weaved
together brilliantly.
From [email protected]: adventure, relationships and excellent
writing.
From Jamie ([email protected]): She is a true fiction writer dealing
with (my opinion) the best kind of fiction-historical
From Melanie ([email protected]): The sense of history as cyclic...
time as non-linear, the intelligence, the metaphysical aspects and the
incredibly strong and real women!
From [email protected]: A friend loaned me a copy of The Eight,
which I wore out and have replaced at least 3 times.
From Ana Olga ([email protected]): I discovered Katherine
Neville´s books when I was buying in a shop. There had a lot of books
with the tittle: "The eight". Then I thought that the book had to be
good.
What do you like most about Katherine Neville's books?
From Amber ([email protected]): The intricacy of the stories and
their plausibilty.
From Christine Persons ([email protected]): historical fact
woven with fiction
From Shaianne PeriHawk ([email protected]): The description and the
concepts.
From Stephanie ([email protected]): I love the mystery of it all.
Also, with all of the historical facts cleverly put into the fiction, it
makes me really think of what is true and what isn't.
From [email protected]: The history, mythology, and characters are
amazing. I can't believe she knows so much about pretty much any given
subject!
From [email protected]: they are engrossing
From Nadia ([email protected]): Whenever I read them, I can't put
them down.
From Lanna Lee Maheux ([email protected]): That she expects everyone to
get it. (So even if you don't always get it, you are help up by the
thought that she believes that you WILL "get it") The characters are very
real, and all of them, even the "bad guys" are three-dimensional. You can
care about everyone. I also enjoyed the "story telling" device, that was
a wonderful way to handle flash backs, and great way for the reader to get
a lot of different perspectives.
From Amanda ([email protected]): The length, the depth of
research and the historical aspects.
From Robert ([email protected]): They are intriguing, mysterious,
historical, and thrilling.
From [email protected]: The myth in them. I like how she connects
different myths from different cultures together.
From Eric Winebarger ([email protected]): I was a history major in
college and I've always been interested in books about historical secrets
and legends, and intrigued by the idea of the ancients having some special
knowledge or wisdom that could affect the modern world.
From Lois ([email protected]): Intricate plotting, history,
character development. Great stories
From Jelena ([email protected]): She is using a true historical
events and people
From Cara ([email protected]): the interlinkages. The mythology.
The levels of symbolism.
From Maya ([email protected]): I like the intricacy of her work,
the little things she manages to incorporate stories/myths/ideas that are
at once familiar, exotic, oridinary, and mystic.
From Jaclyn ([email protected]): The intriguing plot filled with
suspense and romance. You never know what lies behind the next page.
each fact is real, its not made it. The pot has obvoiusly been studied
and critiqued over and over. The mystery is the best. I cant put the
book down because i always want to know how it ends and what happens
next.
From Kate Vinson ([email protected]): strong female
characters and good sex that isn't a rape fantasy
From Summer ([email protected]): Her originality. Too often nowadays
you find morre and more of the same rehashed garbage. She has a fresh
writing style that always kept me unable to put the book down.
From Anthony ([email protected]): It's a toss-up between the adventures
the characters have, and the humor in the stories.
From Zorba ([email protected]): Connections with ancient mysteries
From [email protected]: Complexities... subjects... mind teasing
events and quests
From Erin ([email protected]): The seamless interweaving of historical
details and the mysteries of the plot line.
From R.A. Francis ([email protected]): The way she mixes
history, historical speculation, and darned-good plots.
From Ange ([email protected]): Her way of combining historical
mysteries with modern characters - this means I didn't enjoy Calculated
Risk as much so I've only read it the once!!
From Christie Garner ([email protected]): See above.
From Shanarra ([email protected]): great heroines. identify w/
them for sure. love the intelligence/genius of the characters. So many
other authors have tedious, improbable or common characters. also enjoy
the way Neville brings in the business/computer world while still
retaining elements of the fantastic.
From Janice ([email protected]): The twists...the lead
characters.
From Heather ([email protected]): wahad
From Misty Moore ([email protected]): The historical information
in the novels, and the strong female characters.
From Mandy ([email protected]): The intricate historical details
combined with such an awesome story. The intelligence and accuracy of her
books is remarkable.
From [email protected]: The complexity, especially how she puts historical
details, descriptions etc into the story. Her humour is great!
From Jen ([email protected]): The rich tapestries of the
backgrounds - full of interesting info
From [email protected]: Strong believable female characters; the men
tend to be too mysterious to be real. I've recommended The Eight to two
guys who are computer/chess lovers who have in
turn recommended it to others. One of them alerted me to this web
site.
From HJM Baker ([email protected]): The real and imagined link to
historic events or people.
From Paty ([email protected]): The stories and the characters: I can
identify with the main characters bacause they are women.
From Morven Lister ([email protected]): They feature strong, positive
female characters who are doing well in what are normally seen as male
careers. Oh and I really loved the swimming cat in The Magic Circle
From Holly ([email protected]): The storylines are amazing mixing
fiction and non-fiction together to make a fabulous page turner.
From Virpi Virtanen ([email protected]): Combination of ancient
mysteries and busy today - and beautiful language.
From [email protected]: more challenging, making them more enjoyable;
the quotes at the start of each chapter
From Pilar ([email protected]): Her way of introducing fantasy
in authentic historical facts, and how you try to know more about all that
she has wroten
From Philip ([email protected]): Woven myth and fact, history and
legend.
From Jeana ([email protected]): THE INTERPLAY OF HISTORY. THE WAY SHE
WEAVES MANY DISCIPLINES AND FACTS TO SUPPORT FICTIONAL CHARACTERS AND
STORY LINES...SHE ROCKS!
From Catherine Chang ([email protected]): The way history, math,
science, music, fantasy, and fiction are flawlessly entwined together
From Magdalene ([email protected]): You are awed by the amount of
research Ms. Neville obviously had to do for her books.
From Etrusca ([email protected]): I love that you can re-read them
over and over again, and still be
surprised by what you find there. I'm still learning every time I pick up
The Magic Circle, or The Eight. Her characters are so fresh and
three-dimensional - don't we all know a Georgian, or have an Uncle
Laf?
From [email protected]: The mysticism and the way history continually
affects the present and the future
From Ivana Siprak ([email protected]): the jump between past and
present...also the strong woman character in each book
From Huntress ([email protected]): I like the way everything is
seamlessly woven together.
From Kathleen M. Laird ([email protected]): The story seems to
envelope the reader; creating layer after layer, leading the reader in a
downward spiral until they are immersed in the characters, the history,
and the intrigue.
From [email protected]: The mixing stories, and the hiscorical
characters.
From Catherine ([email protected]): I like how she goes between the
past and the present.
From Linda ([email protected]): Incredible writing.. you really get
into the stories.. everything is somewhat mild (as far as action etc) so
it feels more realistic.. the love scenes don't seem like something out of
a *gag* romance novel, they seem like something that could happen to
yourself.
From Christa ([email protected]): Fascinating blend of mystery,
history, adventure and everything
From Tori ([email protected]): It has everything. I can't put it
down.
From Lisa ([email protected]): extremely detailed, obviously very
well researched.
From Alexandra ([email protected]): What I liked about "The eight"
so much was how she managed to combine historical facts wiht fiction.
Especially when u already know a lot about the French Revoultion and see
how close Neville stuck with the facts, it makes you wonder wheter there
is some truth to it.
From Lynne ([email protected]): They have a great deal of history,
something of metaphysics, and they make you questions your values, in
general they make you think. I love them, and can't wait for the
next.
From [email protected]: the complicated plots/storyline(s)
From Ana Olga ([email protected]): Her heroines, they are
wonderfuls
If there is anything you dislike about Katherine Neville's books,
what is it?
From [email protected]: there are only three of them!!!
From Judith ([email protected]): Actually, it annoys me that she
really has one template for a story and characters that she reuses again
in different situations but they're still good books
From Jamie ([email protected]): If there is one thing a disliked it
was the similarities I found in The 8 and ACR. I still bought it so I
don't care
From Melanie ([email protected]): The end of The Eight was a bit
anti-climactic. A Calculated Risk disappointed me in that it didn't have
the historically sweeping epic-ness about it that The Eight did. But I
can't really fault her for that. The Eight was a once in a lifetime kind
of book that one author in a generation is blessed to write, it would be
virtually impossible to match it, much less surpass it.
From Amber ([email protected]): They end way to soon.
From Christine Persons ([email protected]): Ariel Behn's
family history was too confusing toward the end and at times Magic Circle
seemed more hard research than plot.
From Shaianne PeriHawk ([email protected]): Valentine was too good
to be true.
From Stephanie ([email protected]): Nothing. Her books have gotten
me very interested in History and have actually changed my direction at my
university.
From [email protected]: Maybe that her characters seem a little too
smart/witty. They're not really human enough and fallible.
From [email protected]: sometimes it's hard to understand the connection
between all that info.
From Nadia ([email protected]): Nope.
From Lanna Lee Maheux ([email protected]): My own proclivity to read too
fast, and maybe miss something important.
From [email protected]: This isn't really her fault, but, I hated
that there couldn't be a happy ending for Mirielle and Talleyrand, because
Talleyrand is a historical character.
From Eric Winebarger ([email protected]): I really can't think of
anything...
From Lois ([email protected]): She doesn't write as fast as I can
read. Get that woman a bionic arm and a free flow pen.
From Cara ([email protected]): Her heroines rarely do anything for
themselves. They are thrown into the midst with no preparation and end up
with large groups of guides to take them on their journeys. In some ways
this may mirror shamanic experience (you start on a path you weren't
expecting and meet the guides along the way), but it is less satisfying.
I think that related to this is the fact that everything is stated. Some
parts of her books feel like they've cheated me of an "A-Ha" experience
(this is particularly true of Magic Circle and one reason why I find Ariel
Behn so annoying)
From Maya ([email protected]): They have to end, let me explain.
With "The Eight" and "A Calculated Risk" (I haven't finished "The Magic
Circle") the endings were too abrupt and unsatisfying, the climax of these
amasing tales was hardly noticable. But more than that, I just hate
finishing a good book because I know I'll never have to joy of reading it
for the first time!
From Jaclyn ([email protected]): I did not like the ending of The Magic
Circle at all. I loved the entire book, but the ending seemes very
un-climactic. The whole book was interwoven, deep issues. The ending was
very soft-spoken and slightly dull. Since i had read all the previous
action, i was waiting for an immensely exciting ending, so i was slightly
disappointed
From Kate Vinson ([email protected]): Trying to coherently
explain the plots to other folks!
From Summer ([email protected]): That they have to end.....
From Anthony ([email protected]): That there aren't more of them to read
(yet).
From Zorba ([email protected]): I *loved* "The Eight", but didn't care
that much for "The Magic Circle". I'm waiting for a sequel to "The
Eight"
From [email protected]: Too many characters
From R.A. Francis ([email protected]): Re: Magic Circle, I was a
bit distressed by the "but wait, there's more" continually cropping up in
Ariel's family tree. I know it was very important to the plot, but at
times it seemed strained.
From Ange ([email protected]): Nothing I can think of except give me
more books!!
From Christie Garner ([email protected]): They are too short. I am
always left wanting more and more...
From Shanarra ([email protected]): not enough of them.
From Janice ([email protected]): Sometimes I get bogged
down in the details....but it's nice to see a famous historical character
have a cameo every once in a while.
From Heather ([email protected]): it jumping around
From Misty Moore ([email protected]): no
From Mandy ([email protected]): Ill have to get back to you
From Jen ([email protected]): nothing
From [email protected]: There aren't enough of them.
From HJM Baker ([email protected]): She builds relationships
between characters well, however the minute
they fall into bed together, the quality of dialog suddenly
deteriorates.
From Morven Lister ([email protected]): Her heroines are a bit too
easily swayed by a handsome face!
From Holly ([email protected]): Not a thing
From Virpi Virtanen ([email protected]): There are too few of
them!
From Pilar ([email protected]): They're only three
From Jeana ([email protected]): THEY CAN BECOME A BIT CONVOLUTED WITH
THE RANGE OF CHARACTERS. ALSO HER ENDINGS SEEM A BIT ABRUPT...THE LAST
CHAPTERS SOMETIMES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE
HUNG ON RATHER THAN CRAFTED...BUT I AM A PLEBIAN...WHAT DO I KNOW! THANK
YOU KATHERINE FOR THE HOURS OF JOY YOU HAVE PROVIDED ME...YOU ARE A
BRILLIANT WOMAN!
From Catherine Chang ([email protected]): The fact that it takes so
long for the next one to be published.
From Etrusca ([email protected]): That there aren't more of
them!!
From Ivana Siprak ([email protected]): nothing at all!
From Huntress ([email protected]): There aren't enough!
From Kathleen M. Laird ([email protected]): I would have enjoyed an
index of any sources Ms. Neville used as research for The Eight.
From [email protected]: The big number of pages.
From Linda ([email protected]): NOTHING! :)
From Daniel ([email protected]): She writes better than
me.
From Ana Olga ([email protected]): Her books are very fantastic,
and don´t have realism